The effects of heat transfer on ocean/atmosphere general circulation models.

We investigate in three problems some effects of heat transfer in linked ocean/atmosphere models. In all the problems the term involving vertical thermal conduction is retained in the heat transfer equation and both molecular and eddy values for the conductivity are considered. In Part 1 we look at a two layer model, ignoring all macroscopic motion; the governing equation for both layers is therefore the heat transfer equation. With suitable boundary conditions the 'phase lag' between a heat source in the upper layer and the temperature at the inteface of the layers (the sea surface) is studied. In Part 2 we consider a one layer model. A perturbation model due to Blinova is extended to include the heat transfer equation. One boundary condition introduces a time dependent heat source at the bottom of the layer, simulating a heating at the sea surface. The stream function is obtained at the bottom of the layer. Finally, in Part 3, the stability of a two layer liquid model is examined. Macroscopic motion in the lower layer is ignored. The perturbation equations for the two layers are solved and homogeneous boundary equations yield an equation of consistency for the system which leads to criteria for stability. These criteria are found using difference methods and, following Meksyn we produce first order correction terms to Eady's well known stability results. Using Meksyn's methods once more, the model is extended to include a variable coriolis parameter and a stability equation is found.